Carli Morgan

Q-Tell us a little about your company....
A-  I have been obsessed with images my whole life.  I have had a camera for as long as I can remember.  My senior year of high school it occurred to me that I could be a photographer as a profession.  Years go by, I dabble.  I took courses at the local city college, got bored out of my mind, dropped out, bought a light kit, and the rest is history.  Not really.  I started shooting weddings with the intent of profession in 2007, then spent 2009 unlearning everything I thought I knew.  I have only really found myself as a photographer recently.  I really like the direction I am headed now.  I am past the sophomore phase where you think you know everything and have finally reached my junior year.  I am understanding how much I can learn and grow and I am no longer afraid to ask questions, or for help.

Q-What level of GP certification have you reached? (Basic, Premiere, Leadership Circle) 
A- I am Leadership Circle, which came as a surprise to me.  I just live my life the way I always have.  I was raised in the woods and grew up with a respect for nature and our planet.  I was raised not to waste.  I saw first hand what garbage looks like in a forest, what clear cutting does to a mountain, and what mining can do to water supplies.  My neighborhood was a habitat.  I want my grandchildren to see blue skies like I did, and as a part of the eco system it is my responsibility to care for it, and try to make my footprints as small as possible.

Q--In what ways is your company green?
A- I run a paperless studio out of my home, which has solar panels, high energy efficiency, etc.  I use DVD proofing to conserve paper, avoid chemical processes, and save shipping costs such as fuel, and other vehicle related maintenance .  I recycle as much as possible, I use rechargeable batteries and replace my equipment only when needed, and if possible with used equipment.

Q-What specific green products/components do you offer?
A-I use Finao albums, WHCC, ProDPI, Simply Canvas/Color all of which have very clear practices where the environment and ethics are concerned.  I have moved all of my proofing to online or DVD.  I use Emotion Media to produce slideshows and DVD proofs.  Clients love being able to see their images on their oversized televisions.

Q-Are you a certified Green Business? If so, by whom, and for how long?  
A- Just by GP!

Q -How long have you been offering green products/services?
A-  I have offered green products and services for a little over a year.  I have always tried to be conservative with my usage, and choose vendors for theirs, but I downsized my overhead and product line last year and started making more conscious choices, and sharing my beliefs about the environment with my clients.

Q-Why did you choose to offer green products and/or implement green business practices? How has doing this changed your company? Have the products/services been well received? 
A-  I decided to make the shift because I was raised with a love and respect for nature.  My mother used to drive carloads of refuse nearly an hour to the nearest recycling center when I was a child.  I have always lived a greener life, I was vice president of the Environmental Club in high school, my children learned to sort recycling when they were little.  After the mass media started to use “green” for marketing buzz it occurred to me that by greening my business I could share the ideas with clients and other photographers.  It only seems fair that I should get to use the buzz since I have always lived greenly.

People love the products because they are wonderful, the green just makes them feel extra good about their purchases.  I don’t push people to choose me as a photographer because I am Greener, I want them to choose me because they love what I do, and I do it in a way that they can feel good about.  Green is a bonus for them. It has cut my business cost significantly.

Q- How has offering green products and/or implementing green business practices affected your company? 
A- What have you learned in the process of going green?  My changed practices have been well received.  I find that people care about the environment or they don’t.  I can’t make people care, but I can show them that operating in a way that impacts the earth more positively can be achieved without sacrificing quality.

Q- How does being green set you apart from your (local) competition?
A-  It is fun to say I am the greenest photographer in Fresno.  I don’t know that it sets me apart in the eyes of the consumer.  I’ll let you know after the word spreads more.  I have had more local photographers speaking to me about going green.  Most are very interested.  One said that photography just isn’t green.  Our industry may not be zero impact, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything we can to balance things.  That’s why it’s “greener” 

Q-Any tips or suggestions you can offer to newer photographers considering greening their photo business?  
A-Look at the vendors and practices you currently use.  You may be greener than you think, I know I sure was.  Don’t make sacrifices to your quality.  Remember that EVERYTHING you do adds up.  Every sheet of paper that you don’t use or you recycle, every time you choose things that can be reused, they all add up.  If we all do this together the impact will be massive.  No act is too small.

Q-What was the best part/outcome from greening your company?  
A- Hearing positive feedback from clients and other photographers, and finding that there are other people in the industry that are as passionate about it as I am.

Q- Have your sales increased, or have you seen any other benefits to going green?  
A- Sales are about the same, but I find that people have gained insight into my personality as a result of all of this and seem to have more respect for me as an artist.

Q- What plans do you have for expanding your green products/services in the future?  
A- I wouldn’t use the word expand.  I am transitioning all of my products over to greener versions.

Q- What are your hopes for a greener photographic industry? What changes would you like to see happen, and why? How do you see the photo industry changing in the future?  
A- The average person is pretty resistant to change and so is the average photographer.  I’d like to open the industries eyes to the possibilities of greening their business, and hope that they see how their small choice have a large impact.  People are losing their fear of digital and as that happens it will be easier to move towards products that require less chemical process and consumption.  The technological explosion seems to be settling and the differences between the new products and old are getting smaller.  I am hoping that will mean more photographers choosing to upgrade less frequently and therefore consume less.

Q- What is your favorite eco website or eco-product (that we may not have heard of), and why? 
A- I am adding Wild Magnolia Designs to my album offerings this year.  It is an amazing and different product, hand made by a woman whose passion for her art is rare.

Q- What advantages do you see for photographers to offer green products and services?  
A- Feel better about the products you offer and you will feel better about your art and business.  For me it used to be hard to sell my work, because I am not a fan of “stuff,”  but when you feel good about the quality, durability and importance of what you do it is easier to encourage people to purchase it.

Q- Do you have any eco-tips you'd like to share with other photographers?  
A- Put a lot of thought into the brochures, etc. You have printed.  Don’t put variable information on them, if you list a price then raise it that’s a whole lot of paper to be chucking into the bin.

Q-Why did you decide to join Greener Photography? What value do you see in membership/being certified? 
A-  I wanted to put my money where my mouth was.  Anyone can say that they are green, but clients want verification.  Being certified gave me a way to verify my claims, network with other photographers who share the same values, get information on greener practices, and spread the word to others.

Q- Are you involved in any other cool photo related things? 
A-  I’ve blogged for DWF, Tave, myself.  I am trying to start a support network for girl photographers: www.photograp-her.net